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WHO publishes annual World Malaria Report

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the World Malaria Report 2015, giving readers significant details and data about the disease's global impact.

The data demonstrates that there has been growth in how many countries are growing closer to eliminating malaria. Various prevention methods implemented in African nations have saved millions during the last 14 years.

The report states that over half of the nations that had malaria in 2000 have successfully shown declines in the rates of new malaria cases in 2015. Out of 106 nations, 57 reduced the new cases rates by 75 or more. Eighteen other countries have shown declines in malaria rates between 50 and 75 percent.

“Since the start of this century, investments in malaria prevention and treatment have averted over 6 million deaths,”
WHO Director-General
Dr. Margaret Chan said. “We know what works. The challenge now is to do even more.”

Still, there is much progress left to made in eliminating malaria from the world health scene.

“As the global burden of malaria declines, new challenges have emerged,” Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Program, said. “In many countries, progress is threatened by the rapid development and spread of mosquito resistance to insecticides. Drug resistance could also jeopardize recent gains in malaria control.”